When your little car enthusiasts rifle through their stockings next Christmas, it’s quite possible they will find a replica of Rod Saboury’s 1963 split-window Corvette.
That’s because Saboury, 58, did something no one else has ever done, something that caused toy maker Matchbox to take notice. Last summer, he “pedaled” the quarter mile in 6.95 seconds at 210 mph on street tires, the fastest time and speed ever verified in a street car.
While there’s no guarantee Saboury’s Corvette will be immortalized in die-cast metal — it’s only in prototype right now — this Manchester, Md., resident is renowned in the world of fast cars. He has appeared in more than 500 magazine articles and is featured on 15 magazine covers, and, with more than 700 trophies packing his garage, he is well within his rights to stand beside other big-name athletes like Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan, even if he is only a roofing contractor for whom racing is a hobby.
Saboury said he found the world-record-breaking Corvette as a carcass in complete shambles. Prior to Saboury’s interest, only a few potential buyers had even considered the possibility of bringing the Corvette back to life, but many thought it a job for a miracle- worker, not a mechanic.
» Engine: 400-cubic-inch Chevy small block with twin turbochargers
» Paint: Candy Brandywine Apple by Connery Custom Paint
» Transmission: Lenco 4-speed
» Performance: Chromoly tube chassis, four-link rear suspension, 4:10 gears, triple-disc AFT clutch, four-row aluminum radiator, twin fans and an ice-cooler tank that runs cold water through the chassis
» Wheels: Mickey Thompson w/ET 15×15 rims (back), Mickey Thompson w/American Torq Thrust 24X15 (front)
Saboury found his miracle-worker in the form of Frank Morawski, a familiar name among locals and one of the premier fabricators in town. Saboury knew that if he was going to hit the 200 mph mark, he would not only need an engine that pushes the envelope but also a body and frame that could handle the extreme aerodynamic stresses put on the car. The decision was made that the car would be elongated nearly a foot. Morawski cut the car into three sections, adding 6 inches to the front and 4 inches to the back. The wheelbase was extended to ensure the weight distribution along the frame was corrected for high performance conditions.
Mike Moran of Moran Motorsports in Taylor, Mich., did the calculations on the engine side, determining that, in order to get the nearly 3,000-pound car over speeds of 200 mph, Saboury’s engine would have to get to more than 2,000 horsepower. Unique to the 400-cubic-inch twin-turbo engine is that, while it remains a small block engine, it utilizes big block cylinder heads.
But Saboury also wanted to ensure that the car would continue to sip 93 octane while remaining a “streetable” vehicle, a proposition that bordered on absurd, as cars of this caliber often have components meant to be run for only no more than 30 seconds. So he enjoined Wired 4 Speed, also of Taylor, Mich., which wired the electronics and installed an original one-off dial box on the fuel pump that allowed Saboury control the amperage. This enabled him to decrease it so the fuel pump adjusts to street-driving conditions. Other unique features include a cooling tank that pumps water through the tubular chassis into the inner-cooler and through the engine.
“In the summer it could be 100 degrees outside, and the car thinks its snowing,” said Saboury. “That’s because we’re tricking the motor.”
And then there was the matter of the world record. The holder was Andy Frost of England. His much smaller 1972 Vauxhall Victor, covered the quarter mile in 7.8 seconds, reaching a teeth-rattling 183 mph. At the Super Chevy show in Norwalk, Ohio in July 2008, surrounded by professional judges designated by National Hot Rod Association, Saboury shot the car into the record books. How long the record holds up is anyone’s guess, as competitors are sure to line up in attempts to be the next king of the hill.
What do you drive?
A 1963 Chevrolet Corvette.
Why do you drive it?
A lot of people have cars they drive around on the street. The deal with this car was [that] no one had ever designed a car that could be streetable and pass Maryland State inspection. We designed this car to drive on the street for long durations.
What makes this car so special?
Super Chevy Magazine voted it Car of the Year in 2008. There are probably only a handful of cars in the world that are designed to do what we built this car to do. Everyone always wants to go as fast as they can and still have the car streetable. Well, no one has ever gone 200 mph in the quarter mile in 6 seconds and been able to drive the car home. No one has ever been close.
What is your most memorable driving experience?
To go 210 mph. The forward inertia is so strong that the car ends up driving itself. I went 210 mph, and we didn’t even make a full pass. I shut it off early for two seconds. I was coasting. The car has done a hundred times more than anyone expected it to.
What was the first car you owned?
The first car I owned was a 1938 street rod. That was one I fixed up in 1968. I traded it on a Camaro in 1969. I got $300 for it. I thought that was a lot.
What music are you listening to in your car?
I don’t have a radio. We’re putting an iPod system into it.
And your first ticket. What was it for?
I’ve only ever had one or two speeding tickets. I had to have been a teenager, because I haven’t been stopped for 30 years. People think that because I go over 200 miles per hour on the race track that I drive like a maniac. I don’t do it on the street. I drive under safe conditions.
